#RoyalWedding to blend royal tradition with Hollywood glamour

Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle. Picture: AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File

Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle. Picture: AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File

Published May 19, 2018

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Windsor — Prince Harry weds American actress Meghan Markle on Saturday in a lavish ceremony that

unites the pomp of British royalty with Hollywood glamour.

Hundreds of millions of people across the world are expected

to tune into watch the wedding of Queen Elizabeth's popular

grandson and the American star of the TV drama "Suits" at the

15th Century St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

More than 100,000 fans will cram the narrow streets of the

town 20 miles (30 km) west of London, dominated by the oldest

and largest inhabited castle in the world, a home to 39 English

monarchs since 1066.

"I love all the regalia, all the hoo-hahs, the procession

with the cavalry," said Jane Tofolo, 50, from southwest London,

who shook hands with Harry when he held an impromptu walkabout

with his brother and best man outside the castle on Friday

evening.

"It will be spectacular because us Brits do all that very

well."

Harry, 33, is sixth in line to the British throne. Markle,

36, is a divorcee whose mother is African-American and father is

white.

For many, the wedding is a fairytale. For some black

Britons, it illustrates the breakdown of barriers in modern

Britain.

To others, it is an irrelevance. Polls have suggested that

most Britons will not bother tuning in to watch the event.

The hour-long ceremony begins at 1100 GMT, with weather

forecasts predicting blue skies and sunshine.

The bride will arrive at the church with her mother, Doria

Ragland, 61, with whom she was spending Friday night at a luxury

hotel. Harry was staying at another hotel with elder brother and

best man Prince William, whose daughter Charlotte and son George

will be among the bridesmaids and page boys.

Harry's father and heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles will

walk his future daughter-in-law down the aisle after Markle's

father pulled out due to ill health.

Thomas Markle, 73, a lighting director for TV soaps and

sitcoms, told the U.S. celebrity website TMZ he had undergone

heart surgery on Wednesday. Confusion over his attendance marred

the build-up to the wedding, which had been carefully

choreographed for months by royal aides.

On Friday, Ragland met the 92-year-old monarch and her

husband Prince Philip, 96, who will be among the senior royals

in the 600-strong congregation. It will also include a

smattering of celebrities, including fellow cast members of

Markle from 'Suits'.

Also read: 

Reuters

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